What to know about killing of Ukrainian woman in Charlotte

A Ukrainian woman was fatally stabbed in late August while riding the light rail train in Charlotte, N.C. The incident has sparked widespread criticism of the city’s leaders. Iryna Zarutska, 23, was murdered while in transit by the suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. Brown was previously imprisoned and diagnosed with schizophrenia. Police have charged him with first degree murder. Here’s what you need to know. Immigrated to U.S. to escape Russia-Ukraine war Zarutska came to the U.S. to escape the violent war in Ukraine, that has been ongoing for more than three years, according to her family’s GoFundMe page. She received her degree in art and restoration from Synergy College in Kyiv, as recorded in her obituary. “In August 2022, she emigrated from Ukraine with her mother, sister, and brother to escape the war, and she quickly embraced her new life in the United States…,” the death notice reads. “Iryna is survived by her parents, Anna and Stanislav; her sister, Valeriia; her brother, Bohdan; her life partner, Stas Nikulytsia; aunt, Valeria Haskell (Frank Scott); her cousins, Vera Falkner and Viktor Falkner; and many cherished family members and friends.” Family members say she will be remembered for her “kindness, her creativity, and the lasting impression she left on everyone she met.” Security footage captured the death Footage from the Aug. 22 incident shows Brown rise up over Zarutska and stab her with a pocketknife during her commute on the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). He was sitting behind her for approximately four minutes prior to the attack. Brown is wearing a red hoodie, which he later takes off before exiting the train. He changes train cars and then runs off the light rail with his hand wrapped in his sweatshirt at the next stop, the footage shows. Brown arrest history The suspect has been in and out of prison since 2011, records show. Charges ranging from making threats and shoplifting to felony larceny although some previous charges were dismissed, according to The Associated Press. His most recent detainment stemmed from repeated 911 phone calls in January from a hospital, where he told operators he was being controlled by other people. A judge released him without bail, the AP reported. MAGA pushback President Trump and his supporters have condemned the local attack and blamed the incident on crime left unaddressed in major cities throughout the country. “I just give my love and hope to the young women who was stabbed this morning or last night, in Charlotte by a mad man, a lunatic,” Trump said, referencing the video. “Just viciously stabbed, she’s just sitting there. So, they’re evil people,” he continued. We have to be able to handle that, if we don’t handle that we don’t have a country.” Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, a Republican candidate for Senate, said his challenger, ex-Gov. Roy Cooper (D-N.C.), was at fault for the violent attack. “The blood of this innocent woman can literally be seen dripping from the killer’s knife, and now her blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail, including Former Disgraced Governor and ‘Wannabe Senator’ Roy Cooper,” Whatley wrote. Trump said the incident shows that North Carolina “and every State,” needs “LAW AND ORDER.” He later noted that “only Republicans” can deliver that. The president added, “Additionally, where is the outrage from the Mainstream Media on this horrible tragedy? VOTE FOR MICHAEL WHATLEY FOR UNITED STATES SENATE, HE WON’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!” City leaders decry death, tout investments to fight crime After criticism from national leaders, local elected officials have raised plans to improve protection for CATS rides over the next few weeks with promises to roll out stronger initiatives in the following years. The light rail system said it is 35 officers short and is working to hire the full 219 they have allotted through their contract with a private security firm, after Zarutska’s death. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles (D) said in the next two to three weeks CATS will be rolling out new safety operations including bike units and urban terrain vehicles. She noted that over the past two years, the city has doubled the number of security personnel in the rail system and tripled the safety and security budget from $5.8 million to nearly $18 million. “Over the past several weeks as our community has worked to understand this, what we know is that this was a tragic failure by the courts and magistrates,” Lyles wrote in a statement on social platform X. “Our police officers arrest people only to have them quickly released, which undermines our ability to protect our community and ensure safety.” “We need a bipartisan solution to address repeat offenders who do not face consequences for their actions and those who get treatment for their mental illness and are allowed to be on the streets,” she continued. “We have partnered before on legislation like North Carolina’s pre-trial integrity act, and we stand ready to partner again at the local, state, and federal level.” According to Charlotte crime statistics, homicides are down 29 percent, aggravated assaults are down 25 percent and robberies are down 21 percent.